Construction

The stadium cost CA$17 million ($19.1 million in 2016 dollars)[6] to build, with $7.5 million paid by the Saputo family and the rest financed on a 25-year term.[7] Saputo Stadium is now the Impact's administrative headquarters and also includes a training field, 34 corporate suites and full player welfare areas. The complex covers approximately 1,600,000 square feet (150,000 m2). It was designed and fabricated by Dant Clayton Corporation and built by Broccolini Construction Inc.

The stadium features a natural grass playing surface and was reportedly preferred over BMO Field for this reason by members of the Canada men's national soccer team.[8] BMO Field has since installed a heated and fully irrigated natural grass field similar to those found in the English Premier League.

Anticipating a Montreal entry into Major League Soccer, plans were made to expand the stadium from its initial 13,034 capacity to 20,000 to cope with the anticipated boost in attendance.[9][10] The Quebec government put $23 million for the renovation and expansion of the stadium (the total cost of the stadium was therefore about $40 million). The construction plans went into effect after MLS granted Montreal their nineteenth franchise, which began play in the 2012 season.[11]

Sports usage

The stadium welcomed its first Impact home game on May 19, 2008, a scoreless draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps. The Impact's first goal in the stadium was scored by Rocco Placentino against the Charleston Battery on June 13, 2008. This also gave the Impact its first victory in the stadium, with a score of 1-0. The Impact's first game in the newly renovated and expanded Saputo was played on June 16, 2012 against the Seattle Sounders FC. The Impact won the game 4-1.

The first international at Saputo Stadium was the second leg of Canada's second stage CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying match on June 20, 2008.[12]